Indecisione 2006

Against expectations, the Italian elections are turning into a Bush-Gore-style debacle. They seem to illustrate, too, the quirks of having a relatively recent Constitution that can be amended without much fuss. Center-left candidate Romani Prodi apparently defeated President Berlusconi by 49.8% to 49.7%. (The remaining .5% went to libertarian candidate Michael Badnarico.) But this might not give either man a majority, because:

A new system of proportional representation ... uses different formulas to determine majorities in the [lower] chamber and in the Senate.

Berlusconi passed the law on the eve of the election campaign, when he was trailing badly in the polls. It was widely seen as a bid to manipulate the outcome of the election.

American elections are manipulated years in advance, when states use new census data to draw congressional districts. (Unless they don't like those districts and make new ones when they feel like it later.) It's interesting to wonder what the current crop of Republicans would do if they were facing electoral defeat and the Constitution was flimsy enough to "correct for errors."

Comments

David | April 11, 2006, 9:56am | #

It's interesting to wonder what the current crop of Republicans would do if they were facing electoral defeat and the Constitution was flimsy enough to "correct for errors."

The same thing any party in power would do, game the system. From their perspective, it's better to win and listen to the opposition complain, than to lose and keep your "integrity".

ron | April 11, 2006, 9:59am | #

heh, badnarico.

Jammer | April 11, 2006, 10:01am | #

IIRC, something like this happened in Israel in the mid-90's, when Netanyahu beat out Perez(?). Under the old rules, Perez would have won. I think they were trying to strengthen the PM position, make it more independent of the party machinery.

Mark | April 11, 2006, 10:22am | #

Did you know Berlusconi has had six face lifts.

That's not good. Anyone that vain shouldn't be in power.

At least Prodi is ugly. An important characteristic in any leader.

FXKLM | April 11, 2006, 10:36am | #

The remaining .5% went to libertarian candidate Michael Badnarico

I believe it was .45% for Raphael Naderi and .05% for Badnarico.

Andrew Ian Dodge | April 11, 2006, 10:49am | #

Considering how much the press in Europe bashes Berluscconi I find it amusing if they end up looking daft and he wins (or Prodi doesn't). They will be as apopletic as they were when Bush one again.

Mark | April 11, 2006, 11:43am | #

I'm glad.

All the bashing that the US takes over it's politics and we (UK) re-elect the leader that sent us into a war on dodgy evidence, the frogs are rioting about anything and everything and the Italians might have re-elected the most obviously corrupt leader in modern politics.

Europe is just as crackers.

anomdebus | April 11, 2006, 2:02pm | #

FXKLM, (if that is your real name, )

If you are going to correct someone, it behooves you to be correct. That's .38% for Naderi and .32% for Badnarico.
But you are probably just a troll, so I will merely humorlessly correct the original.

It's kinda interesting how behoove and humorless go very well in a single post.

Xmas | April 11, 2006, 3:25pm | #

Don't blame me, I voted for Molari.

buzz | April 11, 2006, 4:37pm | #

Berlusconi jammed himself with those changes.

ChrisO | April 11, 2006, 6:14pm | #

Wow, governmental chaos in Italy. Now I've heard it all...